Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Stronger Than Before ❯ chapter16 ( Chapter 16 )

Stronger Than Before

by Dragondreamer and Yami Dragon

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! If we did, we'd be rich. But we don't, so we're not.

Warning: This story contains shouenen-ai (guy/guy relationships) and yaoi (guys having sex with guys). It also contains coarse language and violence. If you don't like it, or become offended by such things, leave now! Don't bother flaming us, because we'll just laugh at you.

Note: /…/ Tristan's thoughts

[…] Joey's thoughts

{…} Seto's thoughts

[[…]]Yami's thoughts and mind link to Yugi

//…// Yugi's thoughts and mind link to Yami

`yak yak' (Artificial Intelligence) Sadie's voice

~*~*~*~*~

DD: WE'RE SORRY!!

YD: As in, "sorry it took so long to get this chappie out".

Seto: What's your excuse THIS time?

Tristan: Lay off, pal. You didn't see what the chibi puked up. *shudder*

DD: We had to take the kid to the hospital. She's better now though.

Joey: *rolls eyes* Lucky her.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey struggled against his bonds, reliving some nightmare the others weren't sure they wanted to know about.

"I thought you said he'd be out for at least an hour." Yugi had to yell to be heard over Joey's screams.

"He should have been." Master Kiotou wiped Joey's brow with a damp cloth. "I can only guess that it is a combination of the drugs and the fever."

Joey stopped screaming, trying to lean in to Master Kiotou's touch. The old man tucked that blankets more securely around the blond, speaking to him in soft, comforting tones.

"I want to go home." Joey whimpered. "Please…Tristan…Seto, come find me."

Ryou was standing against the wall, tears streaming down his face. He hated to see any of his friends sick or in pain. The helpless feeling that came along with it was what drove him to put all else aside and take care of them when they needed it.

He reached out through the link to Bakura and shuddered. It tasted of blood and he could sense that insane, murderous feeling he had become so familiar with in his early days as the tomb robber's host.

He pulled back with a gasp, closing off the link, seeing Yami looking at him curiously.

Ryou avoided his eyes, going over to the bed and sitting next to Joey. "Do we have to keep him tied up?"

"It is for his own safety, Ryou." Master Kiotou said kindly. "We do not want him to hurt himself."

"But, why can't…"

Ryou was cut off as Joey began to thrash on the bed, sweat popping out on his forehead to run down his face.

"Please…Dad, don't! Keith! Stop!" Joey face contorted as he fought to free himself.

"Hush, Joseph." The old man soothed. "They cannot reach you here."

Joey responded to the elder's voice, his eyes focusing on the ancient face. "Where's Tristan, sensei? I thought he was here. Did I just dream it? Please, tell me I didn't."

Before anyone could answer him, Joey slipped away from them again, his eyes glazing over as he once again began begging Keith not to hurt him.

~*~*~*~*~

The second the gun recoiled him his hand, Tristan found himself being tackled to the ground by Seto. He heard Keith cry out in pain and saw him clutch his arm as he darted around the back of the building.

"Seto!" Bakura snarled, his eyes blazing. "What the FUCK did you do that for?!"

Seto didn't reply. He was too busy fighting Tristan for possession of the gun. Neither man noticed Bakura sprint off after Keith.

"Damn it, Tristan!" Seto tried to pull the weapon from the other's grip. "Give me the gun!"

"No! Not until that fucking bastard is dead!"

Trying to fight off Seto's grasp, Tristan inadvertently squeezed the trigger. Seto threw himself to the side, feeling the heat of the passing bullet graze his temple. There was a loud ping as it embedded itself in a nearby dumpster.

The two men went still, eyes wide as they stared at each other.

"Seto…oh, gods! I almost…" Tristan dropped the gun with a small sob, moving away and wrapping his arms around himself as he began to shake.

Seto pushed himself up and crawled over to Tristan, putting his arms around him. "Shh, Tris, it's okay."

"It's NOT okay!" Tristan buried his face in Seto's neck. "I almost shot you!"

Seto's reply was drowned out by a piercing scream coming from the direction Keith had run. They held their breath, waiting. Everything was silent.

"Where's Bakura?" Tristan asked as he struggled to his feet, drawing Seto up with him, not letting go of his friend.

"There he is." Seto pointed down the alley toward a wraith-like figure approaching.

Seto groaned when Bakura reached them, seeing the yami covered in blood. "Am I going to have to hide a body this time?"

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "I was doing this before your first incarnation was a twinkle in your father's eye, thank you very much."

Seto shook his head as he bent to retrieve the gun. "You need to clean up before Ryou sees you like that."

Bakura shrugged and began to lick the blood off of one hand. He grimaced and spat, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a red, white and blue rag, wiping his hands clean.

"Are you alright to drive?" Tristan asked as Bakura snickered, looking at the bandana.

"I'm fine!" Bakura replied indignantly, swaying.

Seto rolled his eyes. "I'll take his bike."

"Good idea." Tristan wrapped his arm around Bakura as the shorter man staggered. "Let's get out fo here before the cops show up."

Seto paused as Tristan led Bakura out of the alleyway. He pocketed the gun and took out his cell phone. There was no way he was going back there to check and see if Keith was still alive. He'd call a security crew to get rid of any evidence.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey lay in an unnatural quiet on the bed, his body burning with a high fever.

The only sound on the room was a quiet sobbing and murmured words as Yami tried to comfort his light.

Ryou sat on the bed with Master Kiotou, helping the man bathe Joey's body with alcohol dampened cloths.

There was a commotion in the hallway and Ryou rose, throwing open the door.

His hand flew to his mouth at the sight that greeted him. "Gods! `kura, what happened?!"

"Ryou," Master Kiotou had also risen, coming to the door and placing a hand on Ryou's shoulder. "Please take your other into the bathroom and see that he has a shower."

Ryou nodded numbly, taking his blood-drenched lover by the hand and leading him away.

Tristan pushed past Master Kiotou and into the room, stopping short at the sight of Joey bound to the bed, blankets piled over him and obviously naked beneath.

"What the hell are you doing to him?!" Tristan shouted, running to the bed and grabbing the bindings attaching Joey's right arm to the bedpost. He gave the rope a vicious yank and it parted with a snap.

"Tristan…please." Master Kiotou approached him as Tristan released Joey's other arm. "We were unable to hold him. I was afraid he would harm himself."

"He's not an animal!" Tristan choked out, moving to untie Joey's ankles. "He got enough of that treatment from Keith."

Tristan turned his back on the old man, sitting on the bed and gathering Joey into his arms, kissing his face and rocking him gently.

Master Kiotou turned to Seto, who was busy comforting Yugi while Yami stood at his side, holding them both. "I take it from the state Bakura was in that you found what you were looking for."

"Yes. We did." Seto's arms tightened around Yugi. "Yugi was right. It's heroin. From what I could understand, it's about twice what he should be able to tolerate at his body weight. I can't be sure he didn't lie to us though."

"It gives me a place to start." The old man turned back toward the bed, seeing Tristan watching him with suspicious eyes. "I will return shortly with what I need to begin his treatment."

Tristan didn't comment, instead turning his attention to Joey, running his fingers through his hair.

He held Joey as close as possible, looking at him carefully. The most noticeable change was his hair. It was almost as long as Ryou's…not to mention dirty. It was stringy and tangled, smelling of cigarette smoke and stale sweat. His body was bruised and littered with cuts, a dark swelling along his jaw and a fading boot mark on his chest. He was pale too. Months spent mostly indoors had faded his normally golden tan. But under all that, it was still Joey, and as sick and broken as he was, it felt good to have the blond in his arms again.

Joey shivered, moving closer to Tristan, one hand coming up to grasp the front of his shirt.

Tired, honey colored eyes opened. "Tristan? Is it really you?"

"It's me, babe." Tristan struggled to control his tears.

"Where am I?"

"Master Kiotou's. He's going to take care of you."

"What's wrong with me, Tristan? Everything looks funny. I can't see right."

"You're really sick, but we'll help you get better. I promise."

Joey looked a little confused. He shifted in Tristan's arms, looking over the taller man's shoulder at Seto, Yami and Yugi.

"Blue Eyes?" His eyes went wide. "What are you doing here? Dark Magician? Celtic Guardian? Is that you?"

"Joey…" Tristan began, but was ignored.

"I never got a chance to thank you…" Joey's eyes slipped closed again and he continued to talk quietly to the duel monsters he saw behind his closed lids.

Master Kiotou came back into the room then, placing several packages and bundles on a table next to the bed.

"Tristan," He placed a hand on the brunet's shoulder. "I must ask you to leave."

"Why?" Tristan looked up, his eyes sparkling with unshed tears. "I don't want to leave him."

"I understand, but your energies are too dark. Please, go. Take Seto with you. Yami and Yugi will stay to assist me."

"But…"

"No buts, young man. Go."

Tristan looked deeply into the wise, old eyes. He knew there was no sense arguing.

Tristan kissed Joey a final time and rose. "Just promise me one thing…don't tie him down again…please?"

"Should it become necessary to restrain him, I will call you."

"Thank you, sensei…for everything." Tristan suddenly found himself being hugged tightly by Yami and Yugi.

"It's okay, Tristan." Yami said quietly. "Go with Seto. Joey's in good hands."

Seto took Tristan's hand and led him from the room. Tristan stopped in the doorway, looking back at Joey.

"He's going to be alright, isn't he?" Tristan asked.

"Come on, buddy. Let Master Kiotou get to work." Seto gently drew him away, closing the door and avoiding his question.

~*~*~*~*~

After checking on Bakura, who was passed out cold in Master Kiotou's guest room with Ryou watching over him; Seto took Tristan into the living room, settling down on the couch with him.

Tristan wrapped an arm around Seto and laid his head on his shoulder. "What are we going to do, Seto?"

"He's going to be fine." Seto's arms came up and he held Tristan tightly.

"What if…" Tristan's voice was barely audible. "What if he dies?"

"Tristan! Don't think that way!"

"I can't help it." Tristan looked up, tears spilling from his eyes. "If I lose him now…I don't think I'd survive it."

"He's going to be fine." Seto said again, wiping away Tristan's tears before gently kissing him. "I know he will."

"Here you two are." Mrs. Kiotou came into the room bearing steaming cups which she set in front of the two men. "I have brought you tea."

"Thank you." Tristan made no move to pick up his cup.

Mrs. Kiotou turned to Seto, switching to Korean. "You must make sure the angel drinks it all. It's his medication, plus something to make him sleep. He is of no use to Joseph the way he is."

"I will." Seto replied. "Why do you call him Joey's angel?"

The woman shrugged. "Does he not always protect Joseph from those who wish him harm?"

"I never thought of it that way."

"And you are the anchor. The one who keeps him grounded."

"Excuse me?" Tristan interrupted.

"Sorry, buddy." Seto reached over and picked up Tristan's cup, handing it to him. "She was just telling me to make sure you drank it. It's your medicine."

Tristan looked skeptical, but took the cup. "Thank you, Mrs. Kiotou."

"You are welcome, Tristan." She smiled. "I will be in the kitchen if you need anything."

After Mrs. Kiotou left, Seto sat quietly, waiting for Tristan to finish and taking the cup from him when he was.

"Here," Seto held out his arms in invitation. "Why don't you close your eyes for a while?"

"I can't." Tristan shook his head, settling against Seto's chest. "Joey might need me."

"I think Master Kiotou is going to be a while. Why don't you try and get some sleep now? Might be your last chance for a while."

Tristan shook his head again, trying to fight back another flood of tears.

"Tris, it's okay." Seto said, hearing the hitch in the other's breath. "Cry if you need to."

"It's all my fault, Seto." Tristan sobbed. "If I hadn't left that day…he wanted to talk it out…but I wouldn't let him. He could die and it's my fault!"

"First of all," Seto put a hand under Tristan's chin, forcing the shorter man to look at him. "Joey is NOT going to die. And secondly, it was bound to happen. You guys were having problems before then."

"Problems that were my fault."

"Stop it." Seto interrupted. "I won't allow you to spend your time in useless self-hate. That's not going to do Joey any good."

"You're right. I can't fall apart now. Joey needs me."

Seto leaned down and pressed his lips softly to Tristan's, immediately deepening it when the other sighed. The kiss was slow and gentle, each of them taking comfort in it.

"I needed that." Tristan said when they pulled apart, laying his head back on Seto's shoulder.

"I know. Go to sleep, Tris."

"I can't. I…" Tristan yawned as he felt Seto's fingers rubbing the back of his neck. "Mmm…tired."

"You should be." Seto smiled as Tristan's head became heavy on his shoulder. "Sleep, buddy. I'll stay with you, just like I always do."

~*~*~*~*~

Seto sat in a chair next to Joey's bed, desperately trying to keep his eyes open.

Just before dawn, Joey's fever had broken and Yami had come into the living room looking for them.

With little difficulty, they had woken Tristan and went back to help the others change the sheets and get Joey settled again.

The blond had woken as they put him back to bed, clinging to Tristan and refusing to let go. Finally, Tristan had lain down next to him and held him until he went back to sleep.

It was midmorning now and Tristan had finally fallen asleep, his arms protectively around Joey. Yami and Yugi were asleep on the couch in the living room and Ryou was asleep with the still unconscious Bakura.

Master Kiotou entered the room quietly, regarding Seto with a calm look before approaching the bed. He laid a hand on Joey's forehead, relieved his temperature was still down, before reaching over and placing his hand on Tristan's cheek.

"They have been through so much." He said. "And there is so much more yet to come."

"More? What do you mean?" Seto was wide awake now, not liking the man's words.

"Joseph's recovery will not be easy. I remember the last time he went through this." The elder shook his head sadly. "Tristan loved him even then. I believe that it was his love that saved Joseph in the end."

Seto blinked. It always drove him nuts when the old man spoke like that. He never said anything straight out.

Master Kiotou saw Seto's expression and smiled. "Just be sure you are there for Tristan when he needs you, Seto."

"I will be." Seto's gaze fell on his best friend and the man in his arms. "For both of them."

"It will be doubly hard this time." The old man sighed sadly. "Before it was just his body that had been harmed. This time it is his soul as well."

"I don't understand."

"The hallucinations…I do not believe they were caused by the fever. I believe he was using them to defend his mind from having to deal with what he has done."

Seto rubbed his forehead. He was getting a headache. {Gods, can't he just give me a straight answer for once?}

"Yami is awake. Why don't you go lay down with Yugi? Tristan and Joseph should be waking soon, but they will need some time alone." Master Kiotou raised a hand, forestalling the argument he saw forming on Seto's lips. "Go. You need your rest as well. Tristan will call you when he needs you."

Seto stood. "Very well. For a little while."

"I will let you know when they need you." Master Kiotou said, knowing full well that once Seto was asleep, Tristan wouldn't wake him.

Seto took a last look at the two men on the bed, turning to go back and kiss them both on the forehead.

"They are both very lucky in you, Seto Kaiba." The elder said softly as the door shut behind the CEO.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan opened his eyes to find that Joey had pulled away from him while he was asleep.

The blond was sitting up, propped up against a pile of pillows, staring at Tristan. Master Kiotou was sitting in the chair recently occupied by Seto.

"Joey?" Tristan sat up, rubbing his eyes.

Joey's eyes filled with tears. "It can't be real. I've seen this too many times for it to be real."

"No, Joseph," Master Kiotou said. "It is real. I have been trying to tell you. You are safe here."

"But…Tristan…" Joey looked at the brunet uncertainly.

"It's me, Joey. It's okay…I'm here."

"Are you…are you mad at me?"

"Gods, baby! No!" Tristan lowered his voice when Joey recoiled. "I'm sorry. No, I'm not mad. Why would I be? I'm just glad you're here and safe."

Master Kiotou stood, placing a hand on Joey's shoulder. "I will leave you for now. I need to get a few things from my shop."

Tristan caught the pointed look the old man gave him as he shut the door. He turned to Joey again, seeing him catch his lower lips between his teeth.

Tristan held out his hand and Joey tentatively took it, looking deeply into the other's hazel eyes.

"Tristan…" Joey's voice broke and he began to sob.

"Shh, babe." Tristan pulled Joey into his arms. "It's okay. It's over…I'm here. I love you, Joey."

"G-Gods, Tris…missed you…" Joey buried his face in Tristan's chest. "Please, Tris…please…I…I need you to forgive me…please…"

"Joey, hush." Tristan untangled Joey from the bed clothes and pulled him into his lap.

Joey whimpered, clinging tightly to Tristan. "Please…"

"Hey, look at me." Tristan cupped Joey's chin in his hand and forced him to look up. "Joey, I love you. I'd forgive you anything."

Tristan kissed him then, gently, almost hesitantly. He wanted more than anything at that moment to lay Joey back and make love to him. He'd give anything to cover his body with kisses, to be inside him and hear him scream with pleasure. But he knew Joey wasn't strong enough, wouldn't be for a long time.

Joey sobbed softly into the kiss, unable to believe it was real. He wrapped his arms around Tristan's neck, pressing himself closer to Tristan's body. He could feel his heartbeat. All the times he had dreamed this, that had never happened.

[It's real…it IS Tristan…not Keith.]

He moved back, his hand coming up to cup Tristan's face. "Tristan…oh, gods! Tristan, it really IS you!"

"It really is me, babe."

Joey felt a sharp pain lance through his skull and his legs began to cramp. [No…not now…I can't be coming down now.]

"Joey? Are you okay?" Tristan loosened his grip on the blond as his face pinched with pain.

"Hurts."

"What hurts?" Tristan tried to keep the panic out of his voice.

"I need…" Joey hissed as his head began pounding and the cramping spread to the rest of his body. "Gods…I need a fix."

Tristan's eyes went wide and he lost the ability to speak. /Did he just say what I think he said?/

"Tristan…please. Can you fix a needle for me? My hands are shaking too bad." Joey held up his hands, showing Tristan how badly they were shaking. "Whenever I'm coming down this hard, Keith would always do it for me because I kept missing the vein."

A lump formed in Tristan throat as he listened to Joey's conversational tone. Anyone listening would think he was talking about the weather.

"Tristan?" Joey cocked his head. "Can you? Please? It really hurts."

"Joey…"

A seductive smile lit Joey's face. "Oh, I get it."

He slid his hands down Tristan's body, stopping at his belt buckle. He leaned forward and kissed Tristan's throat, undoing his belt.

"Keith used to wait until I got what I needed before I gave him what he wanted. But hey, if you want to do it the other way around, that's okay with me."

"Stop." Tristan grabbed Joey's hands. "Don't, Joey."

Joey looked at him, confused. "But…I have to pay you. That's how it works."

Tristan shook his head, still trying to come to grips with the way Joey was acting.

Joey rolled his eyes, pulling his hands from Tristan's. "I give you head and you give me a fix. Got it? That's how it works."

"Joey." Tristan finally found his voice. "I'm not going to give you drugs."

"Well, I don't give it out for free." Joey sounded indignant. "If you want it, you can just give me money instead."

"Stop it!" Tristan yelled, grabbing Joey by the arms, shaking him.

Joey whimpered, his eyes going wide with fear and glazing over. "I'm sorry. Please…tell me what I did wrong."

Joey tried to run his hands over Tristan's chest, his demeanor one of submission. Tristan grabbed his hands again, his mind screaming in denial of the other's actions.

"Damn it, Joey! Stop it!"

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry, Keith. Please…it hurts so much…please…"

Not knowing what else to do, Tristan wrapped his arms around Joey, trapping the smaller man against his chest. Joey struggled and, afraid he'd hurt himself, Tristan pushed him down and pinned him with his body.

~*~*~*~*~

Seto's eyes snapped open, having been dragged from his sleep by Tristan's voice.

"Seto?" Yugi felt his husband's body jerk and he sat up, a concerned look in his eyes.

"Something's wrong. Tristan's calling me."

"I didn't hear anything. And I was awake."

Seto shook his head, gently pushing Yugi off him. "Tristan called me."

He got up from the couch, running from the room, Yugi following. He threw open the door to the room Joey was in. What he saw stopped him dead in his tracks.

Tristan had Joey pinned to the bed. Joey was crying and begging him to stop.

"Gods, Tristan!" Seto ran over and yanked his friend off the blond. "What the fuck are you doing?!"

Joey curled up on his side, sobbing as Yugi put an arm around him, staring up at Tristan with horror filled eyes.

"He was…he was trying to…" Tristan stammered, trying to pull from Seto's grasp.

Seto looked at the other brunet closely, and seeing the tears in his eyes, he knew he had jumped the gun.

"What happened?" Master Kiotou was standing in the doorway.

"He asked me for drugs." Tristan whispered in a choked voice.

Seto raised an eyebrow at what Tristan wasn't saying. Suddenly, it dawned on him. The way Joey had paid for his drugs…

"Tris…oh, gods, buddy." Seto put his arms around his friend.

It didn't take Master Kiotou long to clue in. "Seto, please take Tristan outside. I will take care of Joseph."

"I'm staying." Tristan slipped from Seto's arms, turning back toward the bed.

"No!" Joey tried to scramble off the bed. "Please…Keith, don't! I'm sorry!"

Seto grabbed Tristan's arm, stopping him. "Come on, Tris. Leave him be."

Tristan had gone pale at Joey's words and didn't even protest when Seto led him from the room. He didn't notice Seto putting his leather jacket around his shoulders and leading him outside to the back alley of the Kiotou's home.

"Tris, talk to me." Seto pushed Tristan back so he was leaning against the wall and put his hands on his shoulders. "What happened in there?"

"He came on to me." Tristan sighed, closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the brick. "I think he was coming down. Fast. One minute we were talking and then he said he was in pain. He seemed to think that if he had sex with me, I'd give him drugs."

"And you got mad at him."

"Yes." Tristan moved up against Seto, leaning his forehead on his shoulder. "Now he thinks I'm Keith."

"I don't think it's so much that, buddy, as he's just trying to protect himself from the fact you got upset with him."

"I don't know." Tristan moved back again, digging his cigarettes out of his coat pocket. "No offence, pal, but I need to be alone for a while."

Seto looked at him closely, inwardly nervous that Tristan might try to hurt himself again.

"Seriously." Tristan saw the look on Seto's face. "I'll be okay. I just need to think."

"Okay." Seto gave in, leaning down to kiss Tristan on the forehead. "But if you're not back inside in ten minutes, I'm going to come looking for you, got it?"

"Go it." Tristan smiled weakly. "Love you, pal."

"Love you, too." Seto kissed him again before leaving him alone.

/Gods, what am I going to do?/ Tristan lit a cigarette, pushing away from the wall to begin pacing. /He needs a hospital. But if I force him into that clinic…I don't even want to think about what that will do to him. Master Kiotou won't be able to keep him here for long./

"Angel, what are you doing?"

Tristan jumped, startled, at the sound of Mrs. Kiotou's voice.

"Joseph needs you." She eyed the cigarette in his hand.

"Mrs. K., I don't need a lecture right now on my bad habit." Tristan half joked.

"Hrmp, you should be in there with him, not standing out here poisoning your body with THAT." She pointed at the smoldering cigarette.

Tristan rolled his eyes. "Cut me some slack, would you?"

"You are too strong a man to need such a crutch." She retorted, hands on her ample hips.

"Okay, okay." Tristan dropped the offending object, crushing it out beneath his boot. "Happy now?"

"Yes. Now, go inside. My husband wishes to speak with you."

Feeling like a scolded child, Tristan moved past the woman, entering the house. Yami met him in the hallway, informing him that Ryou and Bakura had left to go back to his house and get him and Joey some clean clothes and that Master Kiotou was in his shop, waiting to speak with him.

He wanted to go check on Joey, but he was afraid to. What if he still thought he was Keith?

"It's alright, Tristan." Yami said, placing a comforting hand on Tristan's arm. "I'll go. Master Kiotou asked me to send you to him as soon as you came in anyway."

"Thanks, Yami." Tristan bent down so he could hug the smaller man. "Thanks for being here."

"Always." Yami returned the hug and then moved away, smiling up at Tristan. "We wouldn't have it any other way."

Tristan gave him a small smile before turning and heading for the apothecary shop at the front of the building. When he arrived he found Master Kiotou speaking to a woman with fantastically twisted, arthritic hands. He was weighing out several different types of herbs and barks in a paper envelope.

Tristan sat down on the stool in front of the counter and waited.

The woman glanced over at him and smiled. Tristan smiled back; that seemingly sincere, public relations smile that he had perfected.

"Is this your apprentice?" The woman asked Master Kiotou.

"He is just a friend."

"Hmm…lucky you." She winked at Tristan. "I could use such a handsome friend."

"Now, Mrs. Takana," Master Kiotou chided. "Stop flirting with young men. Do not force me to tell your husband of your behavior."

Tristan blushed slightly, causing the old woman to chuckle.

"And modest too."

"He is taken." Master Kiotou grinned. "Now go home before I must call the police and have you arrested for indecent behavior."

The woman laughed loudly, picking up her package and saying goodbye to the two men, turning at the door and giving Tristan one last saucy wink.

"That woman." Master Kiotou shook his head with a grin. "She is ninety two years old. And STILL she flirts with every good looking young man she sees."

"Sounds like her husband has his hands full." Tristan commented.

"As do you." Master Kiotou said in all seriousness.

Tristan sighed. "What am I going to do, sensei?"

"You cannot put him in the hospital, if that is what you are thinking. You know what that will do to him."

"How long can you keep him here?"

"I do not know. That will depend on Joseph. His greatest wish right now is to return home. I believe it would do him good to do so."

"But…what about what happened? If he thinks I'm Keith…"

"He does not really think that, Tristan." The elder interrupted. "His mind will not allow him to face what he feels he has done wrong. That and the withdrawal from the heroin keep him from fully facing reality."

Tristan put his elbows on the counter and dropped his head in his hands. He could feel the tears threatening again and fought to control them.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up into the concerned eyes of the old herbalist.

"Do not feel as if you must always be strong, Tristan. Lean on Seto. He has always been there for you and will continue to be. He is a very strong willed man. He is your strength, believe that, and trust in it."

"Do you really think Joey would be better off at home?"

"I do. But he must have constant supervision. You know that he will do anything necessary to get more drugs. We cannot allow that. I want to keep him here for one more night, to make sure his fever is truly gone. Tomorrow, take him home. It is my belief that he will recover faster in his own home."

"I know Ryou won't want to leave him."

Master Kiotou shook his head. "Ryou could not control him should he become violent. We cannot trust that he will not do that."

"I'll see that there are people there to help."

Tristan turned to see Seto standing behind him. "Gods, Seto. Will you PLEASE stop doing that?!"

Seto grinned at him, coming over and putting his arms around Tristan's neck and resting his chin on the top of Tristan's head. "I would think you'd be used to it after all this time."

Master Kiotou smiled at the two men. Seto really was Tristan's strength. The love between the two of them was unique and so strong that the old man had no fear that they couldn't survive whatever life threw their way, as long as they were together.

"I will, of course, be there every day." Master Kiotou said. "Should Tristan have to leave, Joseph must be left with someone dependable."

"My people are dependable." Seto said, indicating that they better had be.

"Very well." The old man nodded in approval. "Provided all goes well, Joseph will go home tomorrow. Tristan, go tell him. Do not worry if he doesn't respond to you. I gave him something for the pain. He may already be asleep."

"Yes, sensei." Tristan untangled Seto's arms and stood, rushing out of the shop.

"Master Kiotou, are you sure about this?" Seto asked as soon as Tristan was gone.

"It needs to be done." The old man said.

"What's THAT supposed to mean?"

"Only that what will happen needs to happen, Seto." Master Kiotou looked the young CEO straight in the eye. "There is nothing you can do to change it. The only thing you can do is be there for them…especially Tristan."

Seto shivered at the old man's words, a sense of foreboding sweeping over him.

~*~*~*~*~

DD: Okay…mini cliffie…I know.

YD: But I'm sure you'll all forgive us when we tell you we're starting on the last chappie of One Way Street tomorrow.

Seto: That's supposed to placate them, is it?

Bakura: It better. *sways drunkenly*

Ryou: You got him blood drunk?!

YD: *shrugs* It worked.

Yugi: Please review!